The oral history consists of six digital files: 2011.174.77.1a, 2011.174.77.1b, 2011.174.77.1c, 2011.174.77.1d, 2011.174.77.1e, and 2011.174.77.1f.

Ben Caldwell shares his family's history in the Southwest and his childhood experience in New Mexico. Caldwell describes his military service during the Vietnam War and how his experiences made him reflect on racial prejudices in the United States. He began studying art, and he eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he has been part of a black arts movement since the 1970s. He discusses the L.A. Rebellion, a collective of black filmmakers from UCLA, as well as various art projects in which he has been involved and documentary films he has produced.